Summary: When Ranger is injured, Stephanie discovers something extremely important about her feelings for him. So, while she aids him in his bedridden state, she'll have to decipher whether or not these new emotions are worth acting on.

Disclamier: You know, I recently sent a message to Janet on her website asking if she ever read any of the JE fanfics on this site and, from her words, it seems as though she's instructed not to by her lawyer. A good way of assuring that no one will sue her in the future about stealing their ideas. So what's the need of the disclaimer?

This is my first story so cut me some slack?! I hope (some) of the fanfiction community likes it!

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Prologue

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According to my horoscope, my work and love life weren't of the best quality.

Keep up with your paperwork. Remember; one missed bill can get really freaky in the long run.

Story of my life.

The Moon is in your 12th House of Secrets this weekend, which could get tongues wagging about personal matters. It's best to avoid gossip and to be discreet about what you say. You're very likely to enjoy yourself in private settings where you can appreciate the company of an intellectually stimulating individual.

I suppose that it doesn't sound so bad. If you were anyone but me, that is.

My name is Stephanie Plum and my life is in the crapper. I have a job as a bond enforcement agent and, I might as well come on out and admit it, I suck at it. It's the worst possible job my cousin could have ever given me. Which would explain the unpaid bills I had collecting on my table. I was lucky enough to be good friends with the building owner and still had a few weeks to pay off one. Of course, that still left me with a billion others.

As for my love life and enjoying private settings; it's a bit too late for that. Because the 'stimulating individual' that is, was, my ex-boyfriend and I just broke up. His name was Joe Morelli. One of the best cops around this city with the body, facial features and butt of a God.

And we broke up because of, dare I say, my big stupid mouth and Trenton, New Jersey being so quick at spreading around news. And by 'news' I mean gossip. So much for avoiding it. In a sense, I didn't see why it was such a big deal. Who cares if I spent time with another man? Okay no, that came out wrong. Look, the point is: Morelli was becoming more and more controlling as time passed on and I was sick of it. He should have trust me by now. I trusted him.

Let us not forget the indirect factor in this little equation. The 'other man'. The one who ignited gossip wherever he stepped. I didn't blame him for it. With his dark toned skin, crazily silky hair, great body and amazing smile, Ranger was bound to attract wandering eyes and whispers. And no; Ranger is not his real name. It's actually Ricardo Carlos Manoso. Yeah, I know. Orgasmic pronunciation. He wore nothing but black, was suspected to have the ability to kill people with a glance and spent time in the Army in his younger years hence the nickname he now went by.

It was the same freaking thing day in and day out. Having two very handsome, great, dominant males after me should have been a dream. Sadly however, it had quickly turned into a nightmare. Frighteningly enough, this was a nightmare I had no chance of waking up from.

Unless of course, I shunned one of them out of my life but that was almost impossible. Not because I couldn't physically do it but because they migrated around Trenton far too much and I'd run into them sooner or later.

I had a moment of insanity a few days ago and thought about cutting off communications with the both of them but, almost instantly, I waved that idea off. It was then when I learned that I was pretty dependent on them. Not in a financial way but in an emotional way. I couldn't picture my life without either of them.

Which brought me back to my earlier predicament. It was a never ending cycle. I spent night after night contemplating and morning after morning putting it off. Men shouldn't have been this big of an influence on my happiness damn it!

I threw the newspaper down on the table with a groan and peeked in at Rex, my pet hamster. Rex was probably only male, besides my father, that didn't frustrate me. He demanded three things: Food, water and his wheel. Nothing more. Of course, cleaning up after he soiled himself was a given. Rex was the perfect roommate. I would have married Rex if it wasn't illegal and wouldn't have sent my mother into a cardiac arrest.

With a sigh, I made myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I wasn't especially giddy about starting my day or my job for that matter. I'd take my good time getting there.

Just as I finished off my sandwich, my phone rung. I glanced down and checked the caller ID. Lula.

Over the last few years, I came to think of Lula as one of my best friends. She was large, black and a former 'ho who now worked for my cousin as well. She never did her job of filing, took risks with clothing sizes and always tagged along with me. Lula was a cool person if not a bit annoying at intervals with her unnecessary commentary.

I answered with a flat, "Hello."

Lula was nervous and stuttering. "Did you hear!?"

I could picture her now; big eyes bugging out, mouth agape. When Lula freaked out, she did it to the extreme.

"Hear what?"

I heard shuffling in the background, a male voice saying something frantically and then Lula came back onto the line and said something that made me freeze with cold fear;

"Ranger was shot!"